by While Michael Jackson is most well known as the “King of Pop,” he had a deep appreciation for rock music as well.
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Though he never explicitly stated his absolute top 3 favorite rock bands, interviews and collaborations provide strong clues about some of the rock artists he admired most. Based on the limited information available, Queen, Van Halen, and Kiss seem to have been among MJ’s favorite rock bands. Let’s take a closer look at why each of these iconic rock groups resonated so much with the pop legend.
Queen
Of the rock bands Jackson expressed admiration for, Queen may have been his biggest influence. In numerous interviews throughout his career, he sang Queen’s praises and cited them as a major inspiration. He was in awe of lead singer Freddie Mercury’s powerful vocals and the band’s epic, anthemic rock sound. Their 1973 album “Queen II” in particular left a big impression on the young Jackson.
Queen’s blend of genres like rock, pop, and opera perfectly matched Jackson’s own eclectic tastes. Like Queen, he strove to break boundaries and push creative limits. Jackson tried for years to get Queen involved in one of his album projects, seeing a collaboration as a dream come true. Unfortunately, due to various circumstances, it never came to fruition during Freddie Mercury’s lifetime.
Jackson’s admiration for Queen was so great, he even studied Mercury’s stage presence and vocal stylings. He took cues from Mercury’s flamboyant costumes and dramatic hand gestures during live performances. The Queen frontman’s iconic high-pitched falsetto also seemed to influence Jackson’s own soaring vocals. Songs like “Don’t Stop Me Now” demonstrated the kind of bombastic, anthemic rock sound Jackson aspired to for some of his own material.
Queen’s 1981 hit “Another One Bites the Dust” held a special place in Jackson’s heart as well. He loved the funky bassline and called it one of his favorite songs ever. Its infectious groove clearly left a mark, as Jackson would implement similar elements into his own smash singles like “Billie Jean” and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.” Queen’s genre-bending approach allowed them to comfortably blend rock, funk, and pop – just as Jackson sought to do so successfully throughout his career.
Overall, Queen’s grand theatricality and musical innovation made a huge impact on the young artist. Their blend of styles without boundaries gave Jackson permission to explore his own limitless creativity. It’s no wonder Queen remained one of his most cherished rock influences well into his adult years. Their inimitable frontman Freddie Mercury in particular seemed to inspire Jackson’s artistry in powerful ways. Queen was undoubtedly among MJ’s top rock band crushes.
Van Halen
As one of the most influential hard rock bands of the late 70s/early 80s, Van Halen also found a devoted fan in Michael Jackson. He admired their instrumental virtuosity and high-energy live performances. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen, in particular, blew Jackson away with his unprecedented tapping technique and lightning-fast shredding skills.
When recording his groundbreaking 1982 album “Thriller,” Jackson wanted an epic guitar solo for the song “Beat It” to help crossover the track to rock radio. His first choice was Eddie Van Halen to lay down the solo. Unfortunately, due to Van Halen’s tight touring schedule, he was unable to make the session. However, Eddie recommended his then-unknown teenage son, Wolfgang Van Halen, to play the part.
The rest is history – Wolfgang’s iconic “Beat It” solo became one of the most memorable guitar moments in pop music. It perfectly bridged the song’s hard rock edge with Jackson’s smooth vocals. The solo’s inclusion was a big factor in “Beat It” becoming such a massive crossover hit. It exposed Jackson to a whole new rock audience and demonstrated his willingness to experiment outside his usual style.
Clearly, Jackson admired Van Halen’s technical prowess and no-holds-barred rock attitude. Their fusion of virtuosity and showmanship inspired him to push creative boundaries. Even after “Beat It,” Jackson remained fond of Van Halen. He hoped for future collaborations and continued championing their music throughout his career. Eddie Van Halen’s groundbreaking guitar work was hugely influential on Jackson and cemented Van Halen as one of his cherished rock favorites.
Kiss
Of all the theatrical rock bands to emerge in the 70s, few were as spectacular as Kiss. With their elaborate costumes, makeup, pyrotechnics, they took the rock show experience to an unprecedented level. It’s no surprise their over-the-top performances captivated the young Michael Jackson.
In one 1988 interview, when asked to name some favorite rock bands, Jackson listed Kiss among them. He loved their high-energy antics and said they were “fantastic.” The band’s unapologetic bombast and unbridled fun appealed to Jackson’s own artistic sensibilities. Like Kiss, he understood the importance of visual spectacle in fully immersing audiences.
Kiss’ fusion of hard rock riffs and pop hooks also seemed to influence Jackson. Songs like “Rock and Roll All Nite” blended accessibility with attitude – a formula Jackson would master himself. He took cues from Kiss in crafting arena-ready anthems with broad commercial appeal. Even as his sound evolved into more refined pop territory, Kiss’ no-nonsense rock spirit clearly left an imprint.
Most of all, Kiss proved the power of showmanship and spectacle in live performance. Jackson studied and admired their every dramatic move. It’s easy to see Kiss’ influence in Jackson’s own future blockbuster tours and short films. He took their live extravagance to an even higher, more technologically advanced level. In many ways, Kiss paved the way for Jackson to become the biggest performing artist of all time.
So while their styles differed greatly, Jackson still counted Kiss among his favorite bands. Their blend of hard rock, hooks, and visual panache stayed with him as both an artist and entertainer. Kiss’ in-your-face approach gave Jackson permission to indulge his own natural theatrical tendencies. They ignited his passion for maximizing the live experience – a mission he fulfilled to the greatest extent.
In Summary
While Michael Jackson never explicitly ranked his top rock favorites, Queen, Van Halen, and Kiss clearly made a huge impact based on his comments over the years. Each brought something unique to the table that fed Jackson’s boundless creative spirit. Queen’s genre-blending mastery, Van Halen’s virtuosity, and Kiss’ all-out spectacle provided inspiration as he pushed pop music to new heights.
Jackson didn’t just appreciate rock at a surface level – he studied these bands intimately and channeled their influences into his own innovative style. Their fusion of genres without boundaries gave him permission to explore limitless possibilities. These rock legends lit Jackson’s artistic fuse in powerful ways and cemented their place among his most cherished musical inspirations. While known the “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson was undoubtedly also a rock fan at heart.
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